Detector locator system

ABSTRACT

A detector locator system comprising: an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) source array comprising a plurality of EMR sources; a detector apparatus comprising an EMR detector configured to detect an EMR signal emitted by the EMR sources, a wireless transceiver configured to transmit an ON signal responsive to the EMR detector receiving the EMR signal; a control unit configured to instruct the driver to control the EMR sources to turn on one at a time in an activation pattern, receive the ON signal, and designate, responsive to the ON signal, the EMR source that triggered the detection signal as a triggering EMR source.

BACKGROUND

Typically, in order to detect a location of an object, the object may beequipped with a beacon that emits a signal that can be detected by anarray of detectors configured to detect the signal. However, utilizingan array of detectors may be costly in term of material cost and energyusage.

SUMMARY

An aspect of an embodiment of the disclosure relates to a system andmethod for determining a location of a portable electromagneticradiation (EMR) detection apparatus with respect to an array of EMRsources.

For convenience of presentation, the system in accordance with anembodiment of the disclosure may be referred to as a “Detector Locatorsystem”, the array of EMR sources may be referred as an “EMR sourcearray”, and the portable EMR detection apparatus may be referred as a“Port-Dec”.

The EMR sources comprised in the EMR source array may be configured toemit EMR within a predetermined range of frequencies. An EMR source maybe: a radio wave emitter configured to emit EMR within a radio wavefrequency range; an infrared emitter configured to emit EMR within aninfrared range; a visible light emitter configured to emit EMR within avisible light range; or an ultraviolet (UV) emitter configured to emitEMR within a UV range. Each EMR source comprised in an EMR source arraymay be uniquely identified with an EMR source address. The EMR sourcearray may be an EMR source strip comprising a linear (straight orcurvilinear) arrangement of EMR sources.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the Port-Dec comprises an EMRdetector configured to be sensitive to EMR emitted by the EMR sources.By way of example, in an embodiment where the EMR sources are visiblelight emitters, the EMR detector comprised in the EMR wand is configuredto detect light in the visible spectrum. By way of another example, inan embodiment where the EMR sources are radio wave emitters, the EMRdetector comprised in the EMR wand is configured to detect radio waveswithin the frequency range emitted by the radio wave emitters.

The Port-Dec may be configured to transmit, to a control unit, an ONsignal responsive to the EMR detector receiving an EMR input within itsspectral responsivity above a predetermined threshold. The control unitcomprises a processor and is configured to determine the address of theEMR source whose EMR emission triggered the transmission of thedetection signal by the Port-Dec.

The control unit may determine the EMR source address responsive to thedetection signal based on a “request-response mode”, a “timing mode” ora “trigger mode”.

In a Detector Locator system configure to operate in a request-responsemode, the control unit, based on a set of instructions stored in amemory and performed by a processor, is configured to: (1) turn on oneof the plurality of EMR source, (2) transmits a query to the Port-Dec totransmit back to the control unit a detection signal; and (3) determinesthe currently on EMR source as having activated the Port-Dec if thedetection signal in an ON signal indicating that the Port-Dec receivedEMR input above threshold.

In a Detector Locator system configured to operate in a timing mode, thecontrol unit, based on a set of instructions stored in a memory andperformed by a processor, is configured to: (1) control the EMR sourcesto turn on one at a time, one after the other in a sequence or in apseudorandom pattern, and (2) determine the address of the EMR sourcethat emitted the EMR that activated the Port-Dec to transmit an ONsignal, based on the timing of the ON signal relative to the activationpattern of the EMR sources.

In a Detector Locator system configured to operate in a trigger mode,each of the EMR sources mounted in the EMR source array comprise atrigger signal receiver and a processor that is configured to instructthe EMR source to transmit a response signal encoding an EMR address, orsufficient information for determining the address of the EMR source, inresponse to receiving the trigger signal. The Port-Dec comprises atrigger signal generator operable to transmit the trigger signal, aresponse signal receiver operable to receive the response signal, and aprocessor operable to optionally transmit an ON signal to a controlunit, wherein the ON signal encodes the EMR address, or sufficientinformation for the control unit the determine the EMR address.

An aspect of an embodiment of the disclosure relates to case where theplurality of EMR comprise or consist of a plurality of visible lightemitters, and the control unit is configured to control the visiblelight emitters so that the light source determined to be in closeproximity to the Port-Dec are controlled to be, or remain, in an ONstate to generate an appearance of following the Port-Dec. Forconvenience of presentation, the above-described system in accordancewith an embodiment of the disclosure may be referred to as a “LightDragger system”.

Another aspect of an embodiment of the disclosure relates to a tubularoptical proximity (“TOP”) sensor operable to detect proximity of anobject to an inner surface of a tube. The TOP sensor may comprise atube, which may be a passage tube comprised in a Port-Dec in accordancewith an embodiment of the disclosure, wherein the inner surface of thetube comprises a reflective material. The TOP sensor further comprises alight emitter positioned to shine light on the reflective surface, alight detector positioned to detect the reflected light, and a processoroperatively connected to the light detector. As used herein with respectto a TOP sensor, a transverse section of the inner surface of the tubeis not limited to a circle, and may include an oval, or any shape havingconcave and optionally straight portions, but not convex portions, sothat that the light “crawls” along the inner reflective surface of thetube to have higher intensity in regions closer to the inner surface.The processor may be configured to determine proximity of an object tothe inner surface of the tube responsive to the intensity of thereflected light from the light emitter that is detected by the lightdetector. The TOP sensor may be configured so that a direct light pathfor the light detector to receive direct, un-reflected light from thelight emitter is blocked. The IR detector is optionally a photodiode.The IR emitter is optionally configured to emit non-collimated light.

In an embodiment, a Port-Dec may comprise a passage tube having aninterior space dimensioned to allow a support strip to be passedtherethrough, and the one or more EMR detectors may be positioned on thepassage tube to preferably detect EMR being emitted from an interiorspace of the passage tube. Optionally, the passage tube is additionallyconfigured as a TOP sensor in accordance with an embodiment of thedisclosure.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Non-limiting examples of embodiments of the invention are describedbelow with reference to figures attached hereto that are listedfollowing this paragraph. Identical features that appear in more thanone figure are generally labeled with a same label in all the figures inwhich they appear. A label labeling an icon representing a given featureof an embodiment of the invention in a figure may be used to referencethe given feature. Dimensions of features shown in the figures arechosen for convenience and clarity of presentation and are notnecessarily shown to scale.

FIGS. 1A-1B schematically show a Detector Locator system configured tooperate in a timing mode in accordance with an embodiment of thedisclosure;

FIG. 1C shows a flowchart showing an embodiment of a Detector WandSearch method in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 1D shows a flowchart showing another embodiment of a Detector WandSearch method in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2A-2B schematically show a Detector Locator system configured tooperate in a trigger mode in accordance with an embodiment of thedisclosure;

FIG. 3 schematically shows a Port-Dec comprising a passage tube, as wellas a support strip comprising a plurality of LEDs being passed throughthe passage tube, in which the passage tube is embedded with a TOPsensor in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 schematically shows another view of the Port-Dec shown in FIG. 3;and

FIGS. 5A-5B schematically shows the TOP sensor in operation inaccordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 6 shows a game system comprising a Detector Locator system and aTOP sensor in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; and

FIG. 7 shows a depth monitor system comprising a Detector Locator systemin accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; and

FIG. 8 shows a digital hydrometer comprising a Detector Locator systemin accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1A-1B schematically show a Detector Locator system 100 inaccordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Detector Locator system100 comprises a linear light source (LS) array 110, a control until 120,and a detector wand 130.

LS array 110 may comprise a plurality of LSs 111, optionally LEDs, thatmay be mounted on or embedded within a support strip 113. Support strip113 may be made of a translucent material, so that, by way of example inan embodiment where LSs 111 are embedded within support strip 113, lightgenerated by the LSs can traverse the support strip.

Detector wand 130 comprises a light detector 131, by way of example aphotodiode, configured to detect light emitted by LSs 111. A LS 111typically has a characteristic emission spectrum, and light detector 131may be configured to have a spectral responsivity that matches theemission spectrum of the LSs. Detector wand 130 further comprises awireless transceiver 135 and a processor 133 that, based on a set ofinstructions stored in a memory (not shown) coordinates the actions oflight detector 131 and wireless transceiver 135. Detector wand 130 maybe configured so that wireless transceiver 135 transmits a detectionsignal responsive to light detector 131 receiving a light input withinits spectral responsivity, such as from a LS 111, with an intensityabove a predetermined threshold.

Control unit 120 comprises a LS driver 121, to which LSs 111 areoperatively connected. LS driver 121, responsive to instructions fromprocessor 123, is configured to transmit LS control signals to control asequence of activations and inactivations of LSs 111. Each LS 111 of LSarray 110 may be identified with a unique LS ID, which may be referredto as an “LS address”, and LS driver 121 may be configured to controlthe activation pattern of LSs 111 by transmitting a plurality of controlsignals, each control signal specifying an LS address. Each LS 111 maycomprise a control module (not shown) operable to receive LS controlsignals and activate the respective LS 111 based on the contents of theLS control signals. Control unit 120 further comprises a wirelesstransceiver 122 configured to wirelessly communicate with Detector Wand130, including receiving detection signals from the Detector Wand.

Reference is made to FIG. 1C in combination with FIGS. 1A-1B. FIG. 1Cshows a flowchart for a Detector Wand Search procedure 200 performed bycontrol unit 120 to, by way of example, search for Detector Wand 130 asshown in FIGS. 1A-1B. In a block 201, control unit 120 performs a globalsearch scan, turning one LS 111 at a time, one after the other insequence. The sequential activation of LSs 111 is schematicallyindicated with block arrow 150 in FIG. 1A. Whereas FIG. 1A showssequential activation of LSs 111, the pattern of activation during theglobal search scan may be a pseudorandom pattern, or another pattern inwhich each LS of the plurality of LSs 111 are activated within apredefined time window. In a block 203, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1B, controlunit 120 receives a detection signal from Detector Wand 130 thatcommunicates detection or lack of detection of light by light detector131. A detection signal is optionally an OFF signal indicating lack ofsufficient light detection by light detector 131 or an ON signalindication detection of sufficient light be light detector 131. In ablock 205, control unit 120 determines the location of Detector Wand 130relative to LS array 110 based on the reception of detection signalsfrom the Detector Wand.

The determination of Detection Wand 130 location may be accomplished inone of a number of methods. In a “synchronous”, or “request-response”,mode, control unit 120 queries Detector Wand 130 whether or not theDetector Wand detected light emitted from LS 111 activated by thecontrol unit. An example of the request-response mode is illustrated asflowchart 250 shown in FIG. 1D, which describes an embodiment of arequest response mode operated by, by way of example, Detector Locatorsystem 100 shown in FIGS. 1A-1B. Each time control unit 120 transmits aLS control signal to activate a given LS 111 (block 251), control unit120 also queries Detector Wand 130 to transmit back to the control unita detection signal (block 253). Once the control unit receives thedetection signal (block 255), it determines whether the detection signalis an ON signal or an OFF signal (decision block 257). If the detectionsignal is an OFF signal 140, control unit 120 repeats the process byactivating the next LS 111 in LS array 110, or the first LS in the LSarray if the previously activated LS was the last one in the array(block 259). If the detection signal is an ON signal 141, control unit120 designates the currently active LS 111 as the triggering LS 111* anddetermines Detector Wand 130 to be located near the triggering LS (block261). The difference between the detection signal being OFF signal 140or ON signal 141 may be a difference in an illumination value encoded inthe detection signals responsive to an intensity of light detected bylight detector 131, and control unit 120 may be configured to designatea detection signal having an illumination value above a predeterminedthreshold to be an ON signal 141 and to designate a detection signalhaving an illumination value below a predetermined threshold to be anOFF signal 141.

In a “timing” mode, Detector Wand 130 transmits detections signalsspontaneously, without needing to receive a query from control unit 120,to inform the control unit when Detector Wand 130 has detected light.Optionally, control unit 120 transmits detections signals (either an OFFsignal 140 or an ON signal 141) as predetermined frequency. Because onlyone LS 111 is on at a given moment, control unit 120 may determine whichLS 111 triggered the transmission of an ON signal 140 based on thetiming of reception of ON signal 141, and thus consequently alsodetermine the location of Detection Wand 130.

By way of numerical example, in a case where Detector Wand 130 samplesfor the presence of light and transmits a detection signal at a rate of100 Hz, and control unit 120 activates a new LS 111 at a rate that issubstantially slower, by way of example 50 Hz. In such an arrangement,control unit 120 will receive, for each LS 111 it activates, at leastone detection signal within the timeframe of activation for that givenLS.

By way of another numerical example, control unit 120 controls LS array110 to activate a new LS 111 at a rate of 100 Hz, or one every 10milliseconds (msec), so that in a case where LS array 110 includes fifty(50) LSs 111, it would take 500 msec (half a second) for each LS to haveturned on once during global search mode. Detection Wand 130 may beconfigured so that the duration between light from triggering LS 111*contacting light detector 131 of Detector Wand 130 is about or less than1 millisecond. In such a case, where the period of the activation cyclefor LSs during the global search scan is substantially slower than thesignal transduction time from Detector Wand 130 (10 msec compared to 1msec), control unit 120, upon receiving detection signal 140 fromDetection Wand 130, may simply determine the last-activated LS 111 to bethe triggering LS. By way of example, if a given LS 111 was instructedby control unit 120 to be illuminated at t=460 msec, and control unitreceived a detection signal 140 at t=461 msec, the control unit maydetermine that LS 111 to be triggering LS 111*.

Upon determination of triggering LS 111* (whether operating inresponse-request mode or timing mode), control unit 120 may beconfigured to transmit, optionally via wireless transceiver 122, astatus signal 142 encoding a status value responsive to the LS addressof triggering LS 111*. The status value may comprise, by way of example,the LS address, a distance along LS array 110, or another distancerelated to the distance along LS array 110.

Optionally, after the location of Detector Wand 130 is determined,control unit 120 switches operation to a local search mode, in whichcontrol unit 120 activates one LS 111 at a time, one after the other insequence, in a subset of LSs 111 flanking triggering LS 111* previouslydetermined in block 205 of flowchart 200 to have emitted the light thattriggered the transmission of detection signal 140. By way of example,the flanking subset of LSs may comprise between one and ten LSs 111flanking LS 111*. In an embodiment where five flanking LSs 111 on eitherside of LS 111* are activated one after the other during the localsearch mode, the activation of the flaking LSs may be controlled so thata human observer would perceive it as eleven LEDs (five LSs on one sideof triggering LS 111*, five LSs on the other side of triggering LS 111*,and triggering LS 111* itself) that are on simultaneously (if theswitching between LSs is too fast for human perception) or in a movingpattern (if sufficiently slow for human perception). Optionally, whenDetector Wand 130 is moved so that it becomes activated by a differentLS 111, the identity of the triggering LS 111* becomes updated toreflect the new location of the Detector Wand, so that the local searchmode continues with the LSs flanking the new triggering LS 111* . Itwill be appreciated that the updating of the triggering LS 111* and aresultant shifts in the subset of LSs activated in the continued localsearch mode may provide to a human user an appearance of the subset ofLSs following the Detector Wand.

Optionally, control unit 120 is configured so that if no ON signal 140is received within a predetermined time window, the activation mode ofcontrol unit 120 reverts to the global search mode. Detector Wand 130may cease to transmit ON signals 140 in a number of circumstances, byway of example if the Detector Wand 130 is moved sufficiently away fromLS array 110, or if the Detector Wand is quickly moved further along theLS array so that it is no longer located within proximity of the subsetof LSs active in local search mode (although, if the rate of sequentialactivation of the LSs 111 during local search mode is sufficiently fast,a regular human user may be unable to move the Detector Wand quicklyenough).

With reference to FIGS. 1A-1B, in an embodiment, detection signals suchas OFF signal 140 and ON signal 141 may also be received by a locationmonitor (not shown), optionally a smartphone, that is operable todisplay information to a user regarding the location of Detector Wand130 responsive to the detection signals.

Whereas Locator Detector system 100 as shown in FIGS. 1A-1B is alight-based system, it will be appreciated that the system may be basedon other types of EMR. By way of example, LS 111 may be replaced withany one the following EMR sources: a radio wave emitter configured toemit EMR within a radio wave frequency range; an infrared emitterconfigured to emit EMR within an infrared range; a visible light emitterconfigured to emit EMR within a visible light range; or an ultraviolet(UV) emitter configured to emit EMR within a UV range. In conjunction,light detector 131 comprised in Detector Wand 130 may be replaced withan appropriate EMR detector configured to be sensitive to the EMRemitted by the EMR sources. By way of example, in an embodiment wherethe EMR sources are radio wave emitters, the the Detector Wand comprisesa radio wave detector configured to detect radio waves within thefrequency range emitted by the radio wave emitters.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 2A-2B, which show a Detector Locatorsystem 300 configured to operate in a “trigger” mode in accordance withan embodiment of the disclosure. Detector Locator system 300 comprises alinear array 310 of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags 311 and adetector wand 330 configured to a detect RF signals emitted from theRFID tags.

RFID array 310 may comprise a plurality of RFID tags 311, and a supportstrip 313 onto which the RFID tags are mounted. The RFID tags comprisean RF-transceiver and a processor (not shown) that, based on a set ofstored instructions, is configured to register reception of aninterrogator signals emitted from an RFID reader, then instruct theRF-transceiver to transmit an RF response signal comprising an ID of theRFID tag back to the RFID reader in response to the interrogator signal.A given RFID tag out of the plurality of RFID tags 311 that, at a giventime, is triggered by an interrogator signal to transmit an RF responsesignal in response may be referred to as a triggered RFID tag, andnumerically indicated with reference numeral 311*.

Detector wand 330 comprises an RFID reader 331 configured to detect RFsignals emitted by RFID tags 131. An RFID tag 311 typically has acharacteristic emission spectrum and a data encoding standard, and RFIDreader 331 may be configured to receive RF transmissions within theemission spectrum and data encoding standard of the RFID tag. Detectorwand 330 further comprises a wireless transceiver 335 and a processor333 that, based on a set of instructions stored in a memory (not shown),coordinates actions of RFID reader 331 and wireless transceiver 335.RFID reader 331 is configured to (1) transmit interrogator signalsconfigured to trigger RF response signals from RFID tags and (2) receiveRF response signals transmitted from the triggered RFID tag, which asnoted above comprised an ID of the RFID tag. The transmission aninterrogator signal and subsequent reception of an RF response signal isschematically shown in FIG. 2A as double block arrow 340.

As shown in FIG. 2B, Detector Wand 330 is configured so that, uponreceiving RFID reader 331 receiving a RF response signal, wirelesstransceiver 335 transmits a detection signal 342 to a location monitor320 operable to display information to a user regarding the location ofDetector Wand 330 responsive to detection signal 342. Optionally, asshown in FIGS. 2A-2B, location monitor 320 may be a smartphone.Detection signal 342 may comprise the ID of triggering RFID tag 311*.Optionally, detection signal 342 comprises a field encoding a distancein a predetermined unit of measurement (by way of example meter,centimeter, or inch) along a length of RFID tag array 310 based on theID of triggering RFID tag 311*.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which shows a Detector Locator System400 operating in a light-based mode, comprising a linear LS array 410, aDetector Wand 430, and a control unit 420 in accordance with anembodiment of the disclosure.

Linear LS Array 410 comprises a plurality of LSs 411 mounted on asupport strip 413.

Detector Wand 430 may comprise a passage tube 431 having an interiorspace 432 that is dimensioned to allow LS array 410 to be passedtherethrough. A plurality of light detectors 433, by way of examplephotodiodes configured to detect light within the emission spectrum oflight emitted by LSs 411, may be positioned on passage tube 431 topreferably detect light being emitted from interior space 432 of thepassage tube 431, by way of example from triggering LS 411* as shown inFIG. 3. The plurality of light detectors 433 may be arranged as anomni-directional detector configured to receive light emitted from theLS independent of the wand holding orientation. Detector Wand 430further comprises a processor (not shown) operable connected to lightdetectors 433 and to a wireless transceiver (not shown) optionallywithin handle 435, and is configured so that the wireless transceivertransmits an ON signal, schematically indicated as block arrow 442, whenthe light detectors receive sufficient light to indicate that an LS 411*is in an illuminated state within interior space 432. Alternatively, thewireless transceiver may intermittently transmit, regardless of thedegree of light detection, a detection signal encoding an illuminationvalue responsive to an intensity of light detected by light detectors433, and control unit 420 may be configured to designate a detectionsignal having an illumination value above a predetermined threshold tobe an ON signal and to designate a detection signal having anillumination value below a predetermined threshold to be an OFF signal.

Whereas Detector Wand 430 is described in the context of the light-basedDetector Locator System operating in a timing mode, it will beappreciated that a Detector Wand comprising a passage tube is alsoappropriate for use in a Detector Locator System operating in a triggermode, and/or for a Detector Locator System based on other EMR types,such as infrared, UV, or radio waves. By way of example, in a radiowave-based system, Linear LS Array 410 may be replaced with an array ofRFID tags, each RFID tag configured to transmit an RF signal encoding anID when activated, and passage tube 431 may be mounted with one or moreRFID readers rather than with light detectors 433. In addition, whereasinterior space 432 of passage tube 431 as shown in FIG. 3 has a circulartransverse section, the present disclosure is not limited to anyparticular shape of the interior space. The transverse section ofinterior space 432 may be an oval, a pill shape, a square, a rectangle,or any geometric or irregular shape provided that it allows passage ofan appropriate linear ERM source array.

Passage tube 431 of Detector Wand 430 may be configured as a TOP sensor440 in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4, showing Detector Wand 430 in isolationand from another perspective to allow for a better view of inner surface437 of passage tube 431, as well as aspects relevant to the function ofTOP sensor 440, which may be comprised in Detector Wand 430 as shown inFIG. 4 or alternatively as a separate apparatus.

TOP sensor 440 comprises an infrared (IR) emitter 441, an IR detector443 (optionally an IR photodiode), and a light path 445 comprising areflective surface. The reflective, concave surface comprised in lightpath 445 provides a path through which at least a portion of IR lightemitted from IR emitter 441 reaches IR detector 443. The passage of IRlight from IR emitter 441 to IR detector 443 through light path 445 isschematically illustrated as arrows 447.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 5A-5B, which shows aspects of theoperation of TOP sensor 440. FIG. 5A shows Detector Wand 430 with LSarray 410 at a central region of interior space 432 within passage tube431, and away from interior surface 437 of passage tube 431. Bycontrast, FIG. 5B shows Detector Wand 430 with LS array 410 positionednear interior surface 437. IR emitter 441, IR detector 443, and lightpath 445 is configured so that most of the IR radiation (schematicallyillustrated as dark line 448) being emitted by IR emitter 441 andreceived by IR detector 443 travels along or near interior surface 437.

As shown in FIGS. 5A-5B, IR emitter may be aimed so that the axis of thebeam of light (collimated or non-collimated) has a relatively shallowangle of incidence with respect to the reflective surface of light path445 (see FIG. 4). The angle of incidence may be less than 15 degrees,less than 10 degrees, or less than 5 degrees. As a result of the shallowangle of incidence, most or all of the light emitted by IR emitter 441travels along the light path, staying relatively close to inner surface437 and away from the center of interior space 432. In addition, due tothe placement of IR emitter 441, IR detector 443, and arrangement oflight path 445, the emitted light travels around the transverse sectionof inner surface 437 for about 1.75 revolutions before reaching the IRdetector. The disclosure includes other embodiments in which the lightpath between the IR detector and the IR emitter is between one and tworevolutions around the transverse section of the inner surface or even apartial revolution.

Assuming that IR emitter 441 emits IR radiation at a constant flux, theflux of the IR radiation received by IR detector 443 would also beconstant. However, should Detector Wand 430 be moved so that an object,such as LS array 410, be situated close to inner surface 437 (as shownin FIG. 5B), a portion of IR radiation 448 emitted by IR emitter 441would be blocked, and IR detector 443 would register a reduction in theflux of the IR radiation being received from IR emitter 441. As such,proximity of LS array 410 to inner surface 437 of passage tube 431 canbe reliably inferred from the reduction in IR radiation detected by IRdetector 443.

Processor 436 may be operatively coupled to wireless transceiver 438 andIR detector 443, and may be configured to instruct wireless transceiver438 to transmit a proximity signal 460 responsive to the flux of IRradiation detected by IR detector 443 falling below a predeterminedthreshold or the analog level. Alternatively, the wireless transceivermay intermittently transmit, regardless of the degree of lightdetection, proximity signal 460, with the signal encoding a proximityvalue responsive to the intensity of light detected by IR detector 443,and a device receiving the proximity value may be configured to initiatean action responsive to the proximity value reaching a predeterminedthreshold.

As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5A-5B, TOP sensor 440 may be configured toprevent or minimize IR radiation emitted from IR emitter 441 to directlyreach IR detector 443, so that IR radiation that is reflected alonglight path 445 is preferably able to reach IR detector 443. IR emitter441 may be placed within a recessed opening 461 that opens into lightpath 445 that is shaped as a grooved path, so that IR radiation directed“off-path” in a direction that is not aligned with light path 445 isblocked or reflected. Moreover, IR detector 443 may be placed within arecessed opening 463 to prevent IR radiation from another source, or IRradiation from IR emitter 441 that did not traverse light path 445 viareflection, from reaching IR detector 443.

IR emitter 461 may be configured to emit collimated IR radiation ornon-collimated IR radiation. Optionally, IR emitter 461 is anIR-emitting LED. In certain embodiments, it was surprisingly found thatnon-collimated IR radiation, by way of example from an IR-emitting LED,resulted in a region near inner surface 437 where there was a linearrelationship between IR radiation intensity received by IR detector 443and proximity of linear LS array 410 to inner surface 437.

Whereas TOP sensor 440 is described with respect to FIG. 3 as detectingproximity of

LS array 410 to inner surface 437, it will be appreciate that TOP sensor440 may be used to monitor the proximity of any object placed insideinterior space 432 with respect to inner surface 437. The quantitativerelationship between proximity of the object placed within interiorspace 432 and the IR radiation intensity received by IR detector 443will depend on the shape and IR transparency of the object, and aconversion table or formula for converting the intensity of IR radiationreceived by IR detector 443 to the proximity of the object to innersurface 437 may be derived through prior testing and saved in a memory(not shown) comprised in TOP sensor 440.

Whereas interior space 432 of passage tube 431 as shown in FIGS. 5A-5Bhas a circular transverse section, the shape of the TOP sensor, thepassage tube, or interior space within the passage tube, is not limitedto the particular shape shown in the figures. The transverse section ofinterior space 432 in the context of a TOP sensor may instead be anoval, a pill shape, or any shape in which interior surface 437 hasconcave and optionally straight portions, but not convex portions.

Whereas TOP sensor 440 as described with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5A-5B isIR-based, using IR emitter 441 and IR detector 443, it will beappreciated that other embodiments of a TOP sensor may utilize non-IREMR, by way of example visible light or UV light.

It will be appreciated that Detector Wand 430 as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and5A-5B is configured to perform two separate light-mediated functions:(1) determine, as part of Detector Locator System 400, the position ofDetector Wand 430 along the length of linear LS array 410 using lightdetectors 433 that have a spectral receptivity matched to the emissionspectrum LSs 411, and (2) determine, based on TOP sensor 440, proximityof linear LS array 410 to inner surface 437 of passage tube 431 using IRdetector 443. As noted above, both LS 411 and IR emitter 431, in a givenembodiment of a Detector Wand, may operate in any EMR spectrum. However,it would advantageous for LSs 411 and light detectors 433 on the onehand, and IR emitter 441 and IR detector 443 on the other, to operatewithin non-overlapping EMR spectra so that the operation of one functiondoes not interfere with operation of the other.

Whereas, in FIGS. 4 and 5A-5B, a TOP sensor was described in the contextof a Detector Locator System, the disclosure includes a TOP sensor thatis configured independently and separately from Detector Wand as well asa Detector Locator System.

A Detector Locator System as described herein may be used for a varietyof different applications. A number of examples are provided hereinbelow.

FIG. 6 schematically shows a “Light Dragger” game 500 that makes use ofDetector Locator System 400 with Detector Wand 430 comprising TOP sensor440. Linear LS array 410 is supported by two base units 501, 503. Asshown in FIG. 6, control unit 420 is comprised in base unit 501.

Control unit 420 comprises a LS driver 421, to which LSs 411 areoperatively connected. LS driver 421, responsive to instructions fromprocessor 423, is configured to transmit a LS control signals thatcontrols activation and inactivation for LSs 411. Control unit 420 alsocomprises wireless transceiver 425 that is operable to receive wirelesssignals from Detector Wand 430. The wireless signals may includeproximity signals 460 as shown in FIG. 5B indicating proximity ofsupport strip 413 to inner surface 437 of TOP sensor 430, as well as ONsignals 442 indicating detection of light emitted by one of LSs 411 bylight detectors 433 (not shown in FIG. 6) comprised in Detector Wand430. Proximity signal 460 and ON signal 442, when received by RFcommunication module 245, may be processed by processor 423 to controlLSs 411.

Game system 500 may be operable to provide one or more games modes thattests fine motor skills of a player. In a “Light Dragger” mode, the goalof the game is to pass Detector Wand 430 from one end of Linear LS array410 to another while making sure to not let passage tube 431 get incontact with the Linear LS array. Detector Locator System 400 isutilized to keep one or more LSs closest to Detector Wand 430illuminated as a visual indicator, and TOP sensor 440 is used toindicate whether or not the player has successfully avoided havingLinear LS array 410 make contact with passage tube 431. Detector Wand430 may be configured so that, upon Linear LS array 410 getting tooclose to the inner surface of passage tube 431, Detector Wand 430transmits proximity signal 460 to control unit 420, which then controlLS 411 to make an indication (“loss indication”) of loss of the round ofgame play. The loss indication may be one or a combination of: aparticular pattern of activation for LSs 411; a deactivation of LSs 411;and a sound played by a speaker (not shown) comprised in control unit420.

In a “Follow the Leader” mode, control unit 420 may first demonstrates a“route” by illuminating LSs 411 in a sequence that is to be copied bythe player. Detector Locator System 400 is utilized to keep one or moreLSs closest to Detector Wand 430 illuminated as a visual indicator.Moreover, the location of Detector Wand 430, which is registered byprocessor 432 during play, is recorded in a memory (not shown) togenerate a record of the movement of Detector Wand 430. The record isthem compared with the route initially demonstrated by control unit 420.If the record sufficiently matches the route, then control unit 420generates an indication of a win, by a pattern of LS activation, soundgeneration, or both.

In a “Ping Pong” mode, game system 500 includes a second Detector Wand.Detector Locator System 400 tracks the location of each Detector Wandalong Linear LS array 410. Control unit 420 generates a virtual “ball”indicated by activation of appropriate LSs 411, and each Detector Wandis controlled to serve as rackets for each player to virtually strikethe “ball” towards each other.

Detector Locator system in accordance with and embodiment of thedisclosure can be applied to any use that requires tracking a locationof an object along a EMR source strip comprising a linear array of EMRsources. An example is shown in FIG. 7, which shows a depth monitorsystem 600 for a pool 650 filled with water 651. Depth monitor system600 comprises an RFID array 610, a Detector Ring 620 comprising an RFIDreader (not shown), a processor (not shown), and a wireless transceiver(not shown).

RFID array 610 comprises a plurality of RFID tags 611 mounted onto orembedded within a support strip 613. The RFID tags are made waterproofor embedded within support strip 613 to protect the RFID tags from waterdamage.

Detector Ring 620 is configured to be afloat in water. RFID array 610 isstably and vertically positioned in pool 650 and within a through hole622, so that RFID array 610 is slidably secured within the through hole.Given this arrangement, the vertical position of the Detector Ring alongthe length of RFID array 610 changes depending on the water level in thepool. An RFID reader comprised in Detector Ring 620 exchangesinterrogation and response signals with the closest RFID tag out of RFIDtags 611, and the Detector Ring intermittently sends out a depth signal,schematically indicated as a block arrow 660, which encodes a depthmeasure that is calculated based on the ID of the most proximate RFIDtag to the Detector Ring at any given time. Depth signal 660 may bereceived by a computing device, such as a smartphone 670, that isconfigured to display a depth of the pool responsive to depth signal660. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), Detector ring 620 may bestably positioned, by way of example fixedly attached to a side wall 652of pool 650, with RFID array 610 configured to float freely withinthrough hole 622 of Detector Ring 620.

Whereas depth monitor system 600 is described herein above with respectto the EMR source strip being an RFID strip, it will be appreciatedthat, in an alternative embodiment of the depth monitor system, the EMRsource strip may comprise a plurality of light sources, by way ofexample LEDs, and depth signal 660 may be configured as detectionsignals as described with respect to FIGS. 1A-1D.

Another example application of a Detector Locator system is shown inFIG. 8, which shows a digital hydrometer 700 being used to measuredensity of a liquid ferment 751 being fermented in a vat 750. Digitalhydrometer 700 comprises an RFID array 710, a Detector Ring 720comprising an RFID reader (not shown), a processor (not shown), and awireless transceiver (not shown). RFID array 710 comprises a pluralityof RFID tags 711 mounted onto or embedded within a support strip 713.The RFID tags are made waterproof or embedded within support strip 713to protect the RFID tags from water damage.

The liquid ferment may be for, example, beer or wine that is in theprocess of being fermented. The density of Detector Ring 720 is set sothat it readily floats on the top surface of liquid ferment 751, butreadily sink below any foam that may form above the liquid ferment. RFIDarray comprises a buoyancy device 715 comprising an air compartment 716and ballast 717 that is calibrated to have the device as a whole to beat an appropriate density for its use as a hydrometer, in which anincrease in density of liquid ferment 751 causes RFID array 710 to sinkfurther down ferment and a reduction in density of the liquid fermentcauses RFID array 710 to rise further up. In light of the above notedconfiguration of Detector Ring 720, RFID array 710 and buoyancy device715, the particular RFID tag 711 of the RFID array 710 read by DetectorRing 720 is based on the depth of buoyancy device 715, which as notedabove is based on the density of liquid ferment 751.

The RFID reader comprised in Detector Ring 720 exchanges interrogationand response signals with the closest RFID tag out of RFID tags 711, andthe Detector Ring intermittently sends out a status signal,schematically indicated as a block arrow 760. The status signal mayencode, responsive to the ID signals received from the RFID tags, one ormore status values responsive to the density of liquid ferment 751. Thestatus values may comprise, by way of example density or a related valuesuch as sugar concentration or alcohol concentration. Status signal 760may be received by a computing device, such as a smartphone 770, that isconfigured to display a value based on status signal 760.

Whereas digital hydrometer 700 is described herein above with respect tothe EMR source strip being an RFID strip, it will be appreciated that,in an alternative embodiment, the EMR source strip may comprise aplurality of light sources, by way of example LEDs, and status signal760 may be configured as detection signals as described with respect toFIGS. 1A-1D.

In the description and claims of the present application, each of theverbs, “comprise” “include” and “have”, and conjugates thereof, are usedto indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily acomplete listing of components, elements or parts of the subject orsubjects of the verb.

Descriptions of embodiments of the invention in the present applicationare provided by way of example and are not intended to limit the scopeof the invention. The described embodiments comprise different features,not all of which are required in all embodiments of the invention. Someembodiments utilize only some of the features or possible combinationsof the features. Variations of embodiments of the invention that aredescribed, and embodiments of the invention comprising differentcombinations of features noted in the described embodiments, will occurto persons of the art. The scope of the invention is limited only by theclaims.

1. A detector locator system comprising: an electromagnetic radiation(EMR) source array comprising a plurality of EMR sources; a detectorapparatus comprising: an EMR detector configured to detect an EMR signalemitted by the EMR sources; and a wireless transceiver configured totransmit an ON signal responsive to the EMR detector receiving the EMRsignal; and a control unit configured to: control the EMR sources toturn on one at a time in an activation pattern; receive the ON signal;and designate, responsive to the ON signal, the EMR source from theplurality of EMR sources that triggered the detection signal as atriggering EMR source.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein theEMR source is configured to emit an EMR with a frequency range selectedfrom the group consisting of: a radio wave frequency range; an infraredfrequency range; a visible light frequency range; and an ultravioletfrequency range.
 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein, upondesignation of the triggering EMR source, the control unit is configuredto turn on one EMR source at a time in a second activation patternwithin a subset of the plurality of EMR sources, the subset comprisingthe triggering EMR source and a predetermined number of EMR sourcesflanking either side of the triggering EMR source.
 4. The systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the detector apparatus is slidablyconnected to the EMR source array, so that the detector apparatus isconfigured to slide along a length of the EMR source array.
 5. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured totransmit a status signal encoding a status value responsive to anaddress of the triggering EMR source.
 6. The system according to claim 5configured as a depth monitor, wherein: the detector apparatus isslidably connected to the EMR source array, so that the detectorapparatus is configured to slide along a length of the EMR source array;and the detector apparatus is configured to be fixed within a containerand the EMR source array is configured to float upon a liquid held inthe container or the EMR source is configured to be fixed within acontainer and the detector apparatus array is configured to float upon aliquid held in the container.
 7. The system according to claim 4configured as a hydrometer, wherein the detector apparatus is configuredto float upon a liquid held in a container, and the EMR source isconfigured so that an increase in density of the liquid causes the EMRsource to sink further down the liquid and a reduction in the density ofthe liquid causes the EMR source to rise further up within the liquid.8. A detector locator system comprising: an EMR source array comprisinga plurality of EMR sources, each EMR source of the plurality of EMRsources being configured to emit an EMR response signal encoding an EMRidentification of the respective EMR source responsive to receiving atrigger signal; a detector apparatus comprising: a trigger signalgenerator operable to transmit the trigger signal; an EMR detectorconfigured to receive the EMR response signal; a wireless transmissionmodule; and a processor that, responsive to a set of instructions storedin a memory, is configured to instructs the wireless transceiver totransmit a detection signal responsive to the EMR detector receiving theEMR response signal, wherein the detection signal encodes a value basedon the EMR identification.
 9. The detector locator system according toclaim 8, wherein the value based on the EMR identification comprises adistance along the length of the EMR source array.
 10. The systemaccording to claim 8, wherein the EMR source is configured to emit anEMR with a frequency range selected from the group consisting of: aradio wave frequency range; an infrared frequency range; a visible lightfrequency range; and an ultraviolet frequency range.
 11. The systemaccording claim 8, wherein the EMR source comprises an RFID tag and thedetector apparatus comprises an RFID reader.
 12. The system according toclaim 8, wherein the detector apparatus is slidably connected to the EMRsource array, so that the detector apparatus is configured to slidealong a length of the EMR source array.
 13. The system according toclaim 12 configured as a depth monitor, wherein: the detector apparatusis configured to be fixed within a container and the EMR source array isconfigured to float upon a liquid held in the container; or the EMRsource is configured to be fixed within a container and the detectorapparatus array is configured to float upon a liquid held in thecontainer.
 14. The system according to claim 12 configured as ahydrometer, wherein the detector apparatus is configured to float upon aliquid held in a container, and the EMR source is configured so that anincrease in density of the liquid causes the EMR source to sink furtherdown the liquid and a reduction in the density of the liquid causes theEMR source to rise further up within the liquid.
 15. A proximity sensorcomprising: a loop comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, atleast a portion of the inner surface being a reflective surface; a lightemitter positioned to emit light onto the reflective surface; a lightdetector positioned to preferentially receive light emitted from thelight emitter and reflected on the reflective surface; and a processorthat is configured, responsive to a set of instructions stored in amemory, to determine a degree of proximity of an object to the innersurface of the loop responsive to a reduction in an intensity of lightemitted from the light emitter that is received by the light detector.16. The proximity sensor according to claim 15, wherein the innersurface is shaped to have one or more concave portions, but no convexportions.
 17. The proximity sensor according to claim 15, wherein thelight emitter is configured to emit non-collimated light.
 18. Theproximity sensor according to claim 15, wherein the light emitter, lightdetector, and reflective surface are configured so that the light fromthe light emitter travels at least one full revolution around thetransverse section of the loop prior to being received by the lightdetector.
 19. The proximity sensor according to claim 15, wherein atleast a portion of the light emitted by the light emitter initiallystrikes the reflective surface at an angle of incidence of 15 degrees orless.
 20. The proximity sensor according to claim 19, wherein at least aportion of the light emitted by the light emitter initially strikes thereflective surface at an angle of incidence of 5 degrees or less.